Lock with remotely activated lockout feature
AssigneeSmartlok Systems, Inc.
InventorsGlen L. Aronson, John Wollam
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for controlling access to a storage unit owned by an owner, wherein a renter has access to the storage unit unless the owner receives the legal right to deny the renter access to the storage unit and decides to do so. In this method, the storage unit is secured by a lock that is, at least in part, controlled by the renter. A remotely controllable lockout assembly, however, is capable of over locking the storage unit so that the renter can no longer gain entry when the lockout assembly is activated. The method includes remotely controlling the lockout assembly to deny the renter access to the unit when the owner receives the legal right to deny the renter access to the storage unit and decides to do so.
Claims13
A method for controlling access to a storage unit owned by an owner, wherein a renter can obtain and maintain rights to said storage unit by paying a first rental fee and subsequent periodic rental fee payments according to a schedule, said method comprising:
- (a) providing a lock, controllable at least in part by said renter, securing said storage unit;
- (b) said lock having a remotely controllable overlock feature so that it can be placed in an overlock state by remote control;
- and
- (c) remotely controlling said lock to deny said renter access to said unit when said renter has failed to pay said periodic rental fee on schedule and a grace period has passed since said renter's rights to said storage unit have elapsed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.